Latch mechanism



Nov. 16 1926.

J. A. HUDNER LATCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1924 wmvm/P 0 Joseph A Had/2e! P5? p Patented Nov. 16,1926.

4 JOSEPH A. HUDNER, OF SAN JUAN, CALIFORNIA.

Lemon, MECHANISM.

' Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial No. 687,518.

This invention relates to improvements in latches or looks and more particularly to door latches for steam'shovel dippers. The primary object of this invention is to provide a gravity latch for steam shovels ofv theso-callecPdippe'r type which is durable, simple in operation and positive in action.

Anotherbbject is to construct a latch of this 'chara'cter that will stand considerable rough usage without jamming or sticking when actuated to dump the load.

A further object is to provide. a latch con structed to be actuated by a pivotal arm having considerable"leverage, said latch be- -ing fulcrumed close to the pivotal point of said arm, so that the dumping of the load is accomplished by a slight pull at the outer end of the arm. f V 1 Other objects and advantages and features of my invention will appear with reference:

to the subjoined specification'and the accom panying one sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an ordinary type of steam shovel dipper, showing the door in closed position and my latch in place as it appears when in latched position. Figure 2 is a bottom view of a fragment of the rear end of the dipper shown in Fig.

,1 with the door in placev and the latch in latched position-against the frontthereof.

Figure 3'is a vertical sectional detail taken at line 33 of Fig. 1 of the rear end of the dipper and door with my latch in latched position. v

Figure 1 1s a cross section taken at line 4% of Figs. 1 and 3 and showing the latch I a bolt housing,

guideway and latch bolt thereings and especially to Fig; 1 thereof, lO dee ignat'es an ordinary steam shovel dipper pro vided with the customary sw nging door 11 hingedly connected to the rear end by the i hinged arms 12. The door 11 fits snugly against the rear edge 13 of the dipper and the dipper bottom 14 is provided with a frontal projection or'latch member 15 extending therefrom, which member is pro-v vided with a square opening 16 locatedin alignment with and adapted to receive the latch bolt 17.

The, latch bolt 17 is slidably mounted in a housing plate 18 constructed of heavy plate material and formed substantially U-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 4. A flat Referring moreparticularly tolthe drawbearing plate 19 is secured against the'outer face of the door 11 and extends upwardly from the bottom edge of said door to the center thereof and theihousing platef18 rests against this plate and both aresecurely r1v' eted to the rear face of the door by rivets 20. V The upper end of the.bolt.17 is provided, with a rectangular opening 21 and a pivotal arm 22 extends through this opening at right angles and is pivoted at 23. shown particularly in Fig. 1 to a bracket 24 riveted to the face of the door 11. The pivotal point 23 inserted through the bolt 17 above the'housing plate and rests upon shims or spacers 28, said shims are U-shaped and embrace the bolt '17 and bear against the upper end of the said housingplate.' The cotter pin 27 limits the downward movement of the bolt 17 and maintains the arm 22 in horizontal position when the door 11fis latched; I

-The guideway 29 formed between the housing plate 18 and bearing plate 19 is in vertical alignment with the opening 16 in the latch,member and the'lower end of the V bolt 17 has a beveled end 30 adapted to engage the latch member opening to draw the door tightly against the dipper.

A plug 81 is tapped into, the housing plate 18 and provides a means for oiling the guidway 29. The arm 22 andl'atch .bolt 17 are constructed of heavy material and the T6121:

tive arrangement thereof causes said bolt to gravitate to latched position when the chain is released and to remain normallyin engagement with the latch member of the dipper.

Having thus described my invention, and

an embodiment of it, in the full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel, useful andvaluable improvements in the art to which it pertains, I here statethat I do not wish to be limited'to the precise construction and" arrangementof the several parts, as herein set forth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined infthe appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is the following to-wit:

1. In a latch mechanism, the combination with a hinged door, a bolt for locking said door in a closed position, a plate adapted to reinforce said door and prevent Warping, means to'insure the proper alignment of said'bolt said means consisting of a U- shaped housing in cross section, said plate and housing being bolted to said door means to operate said bolt consisting of an arm pivoted to said door and engaging a slot in said bolt and means to limit the down- Ward movement oi said bolt consisting of a cotter pin secured to said bolt and engag ing the housing thereof.

2. In a'latch mechanism, the combination With a hinged door, a" bolt provided With a said means consisting of a Ushapedhousing 2' in cross section and extending approximately to the length of said bolt, said plate and housing being bolted together to said door, a pivoted arm engaging the rectangular slot of said bolt and adapted to operate said bolt, and means to limit the downward movement of said bolt consisting of U-shaped shims embracing said bolt and resting upon the housing thereof, and a cotter pin inserted through the slot of said'bolt and engaging said shims. V

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereto set/my hand this, 5th day of. Jan.,1924.

' JOSEPH A. HUDNER, 

